Burglary at cricket club leaves trail of damage

OFFICIALS at a Yorkshire cricket club have condemned thieves who carried out a dawn raid in which thousands of pounds’ worth of damage was caused.

North Yorkshire Police have launched an investigation after the break-in was discovered at Richmondshire Cricket Club by cleaners at about 7.30am yesterday. Security is now being stepped up at the cricket club with a new alarm and a closed circuit TV system being installed.

More than £1,000 in cash was stolen from a safe and charity boxes, and a further £1,000 of stock including a laptop, TV and prizes for a Christmas raffle was taken. The burglars also smashed doors and hurled food and drink around the premises.

A team of 20 volunteers carried out a major clean-up operation to ensure a Hallowe’en party for a care home in the town could still take place at the clubhouse last night.

Vivien Lowes, one of the club’s stewards who lives opposite the Hurgill Road club, said: “We have been working so hard to get the local community involved, and the club had just begun to thrive again. It is disgusting what has happened, but we are determined that it will not set back all the work we have been doing.”

Anyone with information can contact North Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060247.